Graham Thorpe’s position as England assistant coach looks untenable after police were called to the team hotel in Hobart because he was smoking a cigar inside the premises during a drinking session that lasted until 6am.
The ECB launched an investigation after footage taken by Thorpe of Tasmanian police telling five Ashes stars — including Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson — to go to bed following a complaint about ‘intoxicated people’ ended up on the Sydney Morning Herald website.
England quickly issued an apology ‘for any inconvenience caused’, and said the management at the Crowne Plaza Hobart had received a noise complaint from a member of the public, prompting hotel staff to contact police.
Graham Thorpe’s (left) position as England assistant coach looks untenable after police were called to the team hotel in Hobart because he was smoking a cigar inside the premises
However, Sportsmail knows that Thorpe was in violation of the law for smoking indoors. It is highly unlikely the 52-year-old will keep his job.
Thorpe’s choice to record the incident was already a cause for outrage among the ECB. It took place on Monday morning eight hours after the conclusion of the fifth and last Test at Hobart. Footage shows Root, Anderson and three Australian players — Nathan Lyon, Alex Carey and Travis Head — being told to move from the terrace of the hotel the two teams had been sharing.
They were furious that the movie was released in the public domain. This came after it emerged that players and staff had been affected by an alcohol culture.
Footage emerged of Tasmanian police telling five Ashes stars to go to bed following a complaint about ‘intoxicated people’
The police kicked Australia and England’s cricketers out of a roof bar. Pic left: Nathan Lyon. Pic right: Joe Root
In the video, one of four officers on the scene can be heard telling the cricketers: ‘Too loud. You have been asked to pack up, so we’ve been asked to come. Now it’s bedtime. We are grateful. They just want to pack up.’ No further action was taken.
As the players move quietly away from a table full of half-drunk beer bottles, Thorpe provides his own commentary: ‘We’ve got Nathan Lyon, Joe Root, Alex Carey, Jimmy Anderson. This is just for lawyers. Say good morning, everyone.’
The reaction among England’s players on their final night in Hobart was of disbelief that Thorpe chose to film the incident. His coaching style was not well-received by England’s batsmen, who failed to score 300 runs in the Ashes series since 1958-1959.
England was defeated 4-0 in Ashes. The investigation is ongoing
The ECB could not have been more unfortunate. The ECB’s chief executive Tom Harrison wasn’t impressed by the three weeks he spent in Australia. He was disillusioned with his findings, including questionable fitness levels, poor communication between players and management, fat-shaming accusations, and allegations of excess drinking, which led to him losing confidence in Chris Silverwood, head coach.
It is believed that players on both sides had a few drinks at the Bellerive Oval dressing room until about 2.30 AM Monday. Once they returned to the Crowne Plaza, some players — and Thorpe — carried on drinking on the fourth-floor terrace until the police arrived at 6am.
The ECB said they would ‘investigate further’, and ‘until such times, make no further comment’.